Page 23 - Cribbs FC v Portand United FA Vase 221022

Non-League Paper

THERE’S just something about the FA Cup
first round proper draw – you dare not miss
it.
Growing up, the hazy memory is listening on
the radio but now it's a prime time live TV event, usually beamed from a
clubhouse of one of the lucky Non-League teams to have got through.
Despite the wider national interest being piqued at this stage, we of course
all know what goes into reaching even this round
If the FA Cup fourth round qualifying at the feeling of the first round proper
draw, then Monday night’s first round was a blockbuster.
Recency bias perhaps, but it’s hard to remember one in recent seasons that
has pulled out so many mega ties – it will be hard for the TV execs to make
their live pics that's for sure.
Bracknell Town drew League One title chasers Ipswich Town, Hereford are
at home to Portsmouth, the winners of the reply between Torquay and
Hampton & Richmond host Derby County, Coalville – who stunned Notts
County – are off to Charlton Athletic, Alvechurch at Cheltenham Town,
South Shields welcome Forest Green, Woking have a home date with
Oxford United, Curzon Ashton take on Cambridge United, first round
debutants Needham Market travel to Burton Albion…the list goes on and
on.
I’ve written here before about the annual FA Cup-bashing that will start in
January, frustration with the elite clubs who want to cancel all replays
because of so-called fixture congestions as if it’s the solution and the bad
wrap the competition, at times, receives.
But on Monday we could see in full swing how good the FA Cup is. How
much it means. From a packed-Alvechurch clubhouse – where the draw was
held – oohing and ahhing every time a ball close to theirs was drawn. To
the scenes of the Bracknell squad jumping around when they drew Ipswich,
or Coalville players celebrating their pairing with former Premier League
outfit Charlton – there just can’t be a competition in the world quite like it.
Every fan and club dreams of having that special run. One that you can dine
out on for years. Heroes are made in the FA Cup. And the exciting thing for
the players still in this year’s cup, they still have that chance to make it them
this time.
Some clubs will have less high-profile first round draws but they are often
the winnable ties that lead to bigger days further down the line.
The limelight will fall on many over the next few weeks. For some it will
shine even brighter as they have to ready their grounds for big crowds,
television cameras and all the circus that comes with it.
There will be hundreds of hours put in at Bracknell, for example, as they
prepare their intimate Bottom Meadow – home of Sandhurst Town – for the
might of Ipswich Town. Only in the FA Cup. There’s just something about
it.